The Senate has shut down a slush fund that gave thousands of dollars to Liberals over the past year, and at least one Conservative senator only learned of the fund recently, CTV News has learned.

"There are all these arrangements made are beyond the knowledge of the public, let alone people in the Senate," Marjory LeBreton, the government leader in the Senate, told CTV News.

She said she discovered the fund last month -- only when the Liberal-dominated Senate decided to end the program.

The $300,000 yearly emergency fund was given to senators working on special projects, and who had run low on their own annual budgets.

Last year, four Liberal senators received a combined $42,500 from the fund, and this year, another two Liberal senators got a total of $42,500.

Senator Serge Joyal received money both years, adding up to $25,000. He is writing a book on Canada-U.S. relations.

"It involves a lot of research. It can't be done overnight, of course," he said.

He added that the money "is not a very large budget, if you consider the involvement and the amount of work that is involved with that."

But Conservatives said they have a problem with the very idea of a rainy-day fund, especially one that was apparently not well known.

"I'm trying to throw open the windows and open the doors and let a little sunshine and fresh air get into the place," said LeBreton.

Liberals, however, countered that there was nothing hidden or improper about the fund, and that LeBreton's own senators were involved in the program.

"There are three or four of her senators that sit on that committee," said Senator Jim Munson.

"Perhaps she should open a little light between her and them."

Liberal Senator George Furey accused LeBreton of using the same bipartisan theatrics that have marked the House of Commons, to help Prime Minister Stephen Harper make Senate reform a campaign issue.

"It's all about taking the Senate down another notch so (Harper) can use it in an election campaign," said Furey.

Canadian taxpayers are paying for Liberal senators to write books?!? I sure hope any revenue from the sale of this book goes into general revenues. The senate is a MASSIVE waste of money. It is a JOKE.

I don't think the Senate is a waist of money. For a price tag of $70 million it delivers useful reports and hearings, which are generally superior to those issued by the Commons.

I also think it should remain an appointed body, to counterbalance the ever changing whims of popular vote. However, the Prime Minister should not appoint, at least not a majority of, Senators. That is too much power in one manís hands. I would suggest a system whereby the premieres would nominate senators to be appointed by their respective provincial legislature.

The American experience, however, has taught us that elected senators are a really bad idea. Instead of acting as a judicious check against the lower house, balancing popularity against constitutionality, and against federal intrusions into provincial jurisdiction, they become subservient to special interests.

I agree the main priority should be to set term limits and redistribute the seats equally between the provinces.

Combine the two thoughts here and elect them during provincial elections.

Or Harper can just refuse to appoint any more as he has been doing for the past year. Maybe he can create a new formula by only filling 6 seats per province and PEI at 4. No constitutional amendment required. What are the Libs going to do, appoint a bunch of Libs in 20 years when we finally lose the government?

The American experience, however, has taught us that elected senators are a really bad idea. Instead of acting as a judicious check against the lower house, balancing popularity against constitutionality, and against federal intrusions into provincial jurisdiction, they become subservient to special interests.

I agree the main priority should be to set term limits and redistribute the seats equally between the provinces.

Wow this is a really old post but I am glad I found it because Joahob makes an interesting point.

I agree with what the senates roll is suppose to be, But here is Devils Advocate....................
Isnt federal intrusion on provincial jurisdiction a partisan issue?
Take the proposed lib and socialist(I am no longer calling the NDP the NDP) daycare program and our healthcare system.

Aren't appointed senators subservient to their party anyways, who are in turn subservient to special interests.

I actually disagree with term limits for "elected" senators. Their constituants should set up their term limits every four years , by means of an election. I understand why Harper is doing what he is doing but in the bigger picture they are useless.

The other thing we should be looking at is senator qualifications. As I understand it in order to be a senator right now you need to be over a certain age and own $25,000 in real-estate. I dont feel that I am qualified to be a senator, yet I am.
Senators should be more constiturionally aware and smarter than our MP's.

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